Top 5 Rappers... IMHO

           Yo!! This is Keenan and I'm back in this thing like I'm trying to parallel park and ready for some Music Monday.  As a hip-hop head, I feel like my taste in rap music is pretty nice.  Like Top 5 Dead or Alive nice. Like Lil' Wayne on Upgrade U nice (last Lil' Wayne reference for this post).  Like your friend's mom who will always buy your food whenever you go out nice.  Yeah, so I'm just going to give you my personal opinion on my favorites.  Disclaimer: I apologize for you not liking my list beforehand.  It sucks, I suck, I know.  Forewarning: there will be no mention of Lil Wayne, Tupac, Biggie, Cash Money, SODMG, or Brick Squad.  Let the hate begin.

5. Will Smith Tech N9ne – Yeah, I know my dude is a little strange and all, but he was one of the first rappers that I had heard of before too many people had (S/o to Madden 2006).  I can definitely understand why a lot of people don’t like his music.  His beats aren’t always the best, but his talent for words and putting them together along with mixing different flows and rhyme schemes is incredible.  He usually doesn’t sound like he’s making sense on the first listen because of his style, but read along with the lyrics and there is always a theme to what he says.  Oh yeah, he can rap really fast too.  Doing it one time for the Juggalos I guess… Favorites: This Ring, The Waitress, Worldwide Choppers, Table & Chest Stress

4. Plies OJ Da Juiceman  KDot & Lupe Fiasco – I guess this grouping technically makes my Top 5 a Top 6, but because I couldn’t make any cuts I guess you’ll have to deal with it.  These guys are very similar in that lyrics and positivity come first for them.  Both are phenomenal story tellers as well (see “The Art of Peer Pressure” and “Hip-Hop Saved My Life”).  Since Lupe is older and has been in the industry longer and is more established, he has begun focusing more on political issues and different genres to dabble in.  Don’t get it twisted though, because The Great American Rap Album: Part I was dope and even more recently he was featured on “Poor Decisions” with Wale and Ricky Rozay.  He stole the show.  As for young KDot, he is new in the game and still has to grow his catalog, which I feel he will do.  In my opinion, he has all the tools to become one of the best ever, but only time will tell if that prophecy will come to fruition.   Fave Lupe: He Say She Say, Kick Push, Superstar, The Show Goes On, Hurt Me Soul; Fave KDot: Don't Kill My Vibe, Cut You Off, Rigamortus, Blow My High

3. Marky Mark & the Funky Bunch Eminem – Slim!  The original dope white rapper.  As far as strictly rapping goes, Eminem might be the best period.  He has everything: flow, delivery, passion, rhymes, word play, humor, etc.  I read something the other day that said he couldn’t be the best ever because his rap beefs were against lames, yada yada yada.  Do you know why only lames approached him?  Because everyone else was scared and knew better.  And that’s real.  Faves from Marshall: Till I Collapse, Despicable, Renegade

2. Birdman Jay-Z – “They call me HOV! H to the O-V!”  Leaving out Jay-Z would be a travesty.  The only thing that is more impressive, in my own humble opinion, than Jay’s lyrics, flow, beats, numerous classic albums, lady (good Lord!), and cash flow has to be his longevity.  He’s like 96 43, but is still the single most relevant artist in the hip-hop industry.  Now, just because I find that the most impressive aspect of his career doesn’t mean I don’t thoroughly enjoy his music.  His classic lines are endless, his classic songs are numerous, and he has 12 classic albums.  That’s what I call winning.  And Jay, if you ever see this, I’m letting you know now that you better tell the Illuminati not to let me get famous or get money.  If I get either, then I’m coming for B.  And that’s real!  Here’s some of my favorite stuff by my #2 (pause): 99 Problems, Who Gon Stop Me Now, Song Cry, Monster

1. Mystikal Tony Yayo  Kanye West – Yeezy taught me!  He is his own producer, has clothes in Paris fashion shows (that’s the location where y’all get your fashion from), collabs with Nike for shoes that are online right now selling for $2,195, is dating my favorite girl in the world, and is one of the realest people with no fear of showing it (S/o to Taylor Swift).  His rants are nearly as classic as his music, but Kanye’s fearlessness behind a mic is unparalleled.  Don’t forget that Yeezus comes out in like a week too, so get that illegal download as soon as you can!  What Yeezy taught me: Devil In A New Dress (favorite song ever), Get Em High, New God Flow, Monster, Diamonds, Hey Mama

Honorable Mention:

Outkast – How can you not like them?

The Whole Wu Tang Clan - C.R.E.A.M. Everyone's flow is just so raw.

Game – Jesus Piece moved him up.

Nas – Still has it, just doesn’t do it commercially.

Rick Ross – Rick Ross on his elegant “I got 12 Maybachs lined up back to back/send a text to Meek asking where them white girls at” or “Open up some Rose just to pour it out/I got 37 bricks on my foreign couch” with a J.U.S.T.I.C.E. League beat is a problem.

Fabolous - After I heard The Soul Tape 1 & The Soul Tape 2, I was sold.

Drake & J. Cole – Just two guys that have flow, make good music, are real, but just happen to be kinda corny sometimes.  Drizzy. Cole World.

Newcomers With Serious Poential:

Chance the Rapper - Soulful, fun, goofy.  Not everyone will like him, but he’s different.  Gotta love that.

Joey Bada$$ - A throwback to the Golden Era of hip-hop, but he’s only 19.  Tell me again that my generation can’t rap.

Mac Miller – I still bump his KIDS mixtape.  His growth over the past couple years is ridiculous though.  New album just came out illegally too.

Tyler, The Creator – You either hate him or love him.  I love him. Pause.  He is next in line to take Kanye’s spot as the loose cannon that can do it all.

Well that's the list.  I hope it isn't too blasphemous and that someone likes it.  Show us your list by commenting on this post, or tweeting @WeAreBOM.  We'll be back tomorrow with something (Idk what yet).  Anyways! Go follow us on Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, and Vine (Can someone please find me a link?!?!?!) @WeAreBOM.  Make sure to check out the blogs daily as well and comment to let us know what you want us to write about.  T-Shirts on the way soon too!!! Deuces Brodies!